Cage Warriors – Europe’s Leading MMA Organisation – has today confirmed one of the most high-anticipated title bouts in recent years. Newly crowned featherweight champion Solomon ‘King’ Simon will make the first defence of his 145lb world championship against the division’s #1 contender, Nik Bagley. The pair will meet on the main card of CW 200 on Saturday, February 21st, at the iconic RDS.
Tickets for CW 200 are availible here!
Originally scheduled to meet for the title at CW 196 in London, an injury picked up in trained forced Bagley out of the bout. Simon (7-0) instead faced Brazil’s Caique Araujo, finishing him with a flurry of strikes in the second round to capture the vacant title previously held by the like of Harry Hardwick, Paul Hughes, Paddy Pimblett and Connor McGregor.
Simon had previously developed a reputation as a calculated finisher, stopping numerous opponents with buzzer-beater submissions and knocking our former lightweight title challenger Cristian Iorga.
Bagley (7-1) has also been on a tear of late. Following a shock decision loss to Ben Ellis in 2022, the Ukrainian-born Londoner finished his next four opponents with rear naked chokes, with only one of those going past the first round.
The GB Top Team man most recently saw action against Keweny Lopes, dominating the former title challenger in a stunning three round display of aggressive grappling and ground ‘n’ pound.
With Bagley getting a cage side view of Simon’s title win in November and entering the cage to call him out in the aftermath, CW President Graham Boylan gave a strong hint that the pair would settle their business at CW 200.
Now, that hint becomes a reality.
“I’m officially confirming the news that fans have been waiting for…” said CW President Graham Boylan. “Solomon Simon’s first defence of his Cage Warriors featherweight world title will come against the #1 contender, Nik Bagley.”
“CW 200 is going to be one of the biggest events in the organisation’s history, and there’s no better way to kick off the fight announcements than this.”
“Solomon and Nik represent the next wave of UK, Irish and European MMA; the UFC stars of the future. When they’ve settled their business on February 21st, you’ll be looking at the the best unsigned featherweight on the circuit.”
Further bouts for CW 200 will be confirmed in the coming weeks and months. Tickets for the event are available here.